. the mayonnaise jar .

I hope you guys had a relaxing weekend and that the start of the week is treating you well so far. I won’t lie – I’m a big fan of Mondays. I think most of it comes down to that whole “fresh start” feeling, but I kind of like getting back into a routine as well. I know, I know – I’m a weirdo – but at least I’m a happy weirdo when Monday morning rolls around, right? Right. I know a lot of people don’t exactly share my sentiments when it comes to trading in two days of freedom for a day in the office/classroom, though, so I thought I’d share an inspirational little story that I came across this weekend to [hopefully] start the week off on a positive note for those who feel like they’re dragging their feet. It’s called “The Mayonnaise Jar”…

. – . – . – .

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day is not enough time, remember the mayonnaise jar and two cups of coffee…

A professor stood before his philosophy class with some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of small pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly and the pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

Next, the professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up the space between the golf balls and pebbles. Once more, the professor asked if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “YES.”

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the stand. The students laughed.

“Now,” said the professor, as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things – God, family, children, health, friends, and passions. Things, that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter – your job, house, and car. The sand is everything else – “the small stuff.”

“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “There is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you…“

“So… pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Worship with your family. Play with your children. Take your partner out to dinner. Spend time with good friends. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the dropping tap. Take care of the golf balls first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities.The rest is just sand.“

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled and said, “I’m glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.“

. – . – . – .

I’m definitely guilty of getting caught up in the small stuff and spending far too much time and energy on things that, in the grand scheme of things, probably don’t really matter all that much. I think a lot of it has to do with perfectionism and feeling like I need to give everything 110% of my attention – it can get exhausting and overwhelming at times, so I constantly need little reminders like this because they help me take a step back and re-prioritize. Even though I still fall victim to burying myself in “sand,” I do notice that when I focus more on the “golf balls” of life, everything else just has a way of falling into place. Go figure.

With that said, here are a few scenes I captured of the golf ball moments from my weekend….

Fresh, sunny flowers at the farmers market. I was so tempted to pick some up, but I didn’t because…

… I ended up picking up a few baby herb plants instead. Now, I definitely do not have a green thumb, but I hear that herbs are pretty low maintenance so I’m hoping that my minimal skills can keep them alive. I got basil, thyme, and chocolate (!!!) mint. Not gonna lie… they kind of warm my plant-killer heart.

Nothing like coming across some new foodie products in the grocery store, am.I.right? On my [apparently snack-filled] shopping trip, I managed to come across a few new-to-me things that I’ve been wanting to try for a while: chocolate rice crispies (because everything is better with chocolate), Sunwarrior protein powder (because I keep hearing amazing things), and the Simply Whey bar (because it’s near impossible to find an allergy-friendly energy bar). So far I’ve only broken in to the cereal (surprise, surprise), and… swooooooon.

A gorgeous weekend meant lots of time spent out in the sun…

… with ice cold drinks and [creepster] photobombers…

… who were quite finicky when it came to actually being photographed.

Nothing like freshly grilled corn on the cob… even if you have to pick the kernels out of your teeth.

Oh the things I’ll do for delicious food… This was the scene at Duchess Bake Shop literally 5 minutes after they opened… I’m usually a patient person, but not when it comes to food.

… but it was so totally worth it. Hello blueberry scone.

. – . – . – .

Do you struggle with getting too caught up in things that don’t matter?
What are some “sands” in your life right now? What about some “golf balls?”

Reader Interactions

Comments

I agree with you on Monday mornings. They’re totally like a fresh start.
I love the mayonnaise jar story, I’ve never heard it before. I definitely have my moments where I get caught up in the little things and overthink, but when it comes down to it, I always appreciate those “golfball” moments.
Some golfball moments in my life would be my pup, friends, food, just the little things.

I love this story!! So true!!
Actually, I am doing great with focusing on the golfballs on my days off (Friday, Saturday, Sunday). I really just do stuff that is complete enjoyment (like being outdoors, baking/cooking, reading, blogging, working out) and includes tons of family, partner and friends time. But I do get caught when I am in my worklife and need to ‘fit everything in’ – I just get too busy over sand great reminder!
Love the pics of your weekend, how beautiful are sunflowers?? I love them! Oh and this bake shop must be a real winner with people queueing after 5 minutes!!

Clearly I am a weirdo too because I am a fan of Mondays- it’s definitely the whole “fresh start” thing that does it for me. This story sounds familiar although it’s great reminder. I sometimes get wrapped up in the silliest things and stepping back and re-prioritising is enough to give me a wake-up call. Although I’ve stopped taking protein powder for the most part, Sunwarrior is one that I am a fan of! It’s a bit sweet but mixed with tangy Greek yogurt & nut butter and it tastes fabulous- chuck in some chocolate chips for good measure. I’m tempted to even say that it tastes somewhat like cookie dough…somewhat ;)!

I’m not the biggest fan of protein powder anymore either, but Sunwarrior has always intrigued me so I wanted to test it out… And now that you’ve given me such a good ‘cookie dough’ recipe, I want to try it out even more.

What a lovely story! I’ll make sure to share it with a lot of people, this one keeps in ones mind. And I will also think about it when I am again starting to fill up my life with sand instead of golf balls 😉 . Amazing. While talking about amazing: I am a huge fan of caramel soy pudding. That’s part of the good stuff I kept from my vegan diet. Have you ever dried the dark chocolate one? It’s my favorite flavor.

I don’t really think I get too caught up in the small things. I try not to let situations bother me that I cannot control. It’s tough, but so worth it! Love that story! Happy Monday (I don’t mind Mondays…or mornings..either!)

Usually, I’m not a fan of Mondays, but today is different because we’re on vacation and leaving to go to Lake George today! I’m super excited! Anyway, I can see why you’d like Mondays and I think I need to try and embrace the start of the week more often. This story is an awesome reminder to do just that. I definitely find myself getting caught up in the small things (especially when it comes to work) sometimes and it’s totally not worth it. I need to try and look at the bigger picture, and focus on the golf balls in my life more often. Thanks for this reminder and happy Monday Amanda!

I absolutely love this Amanda. I definitely fall prey to focusing on the smaller stuff that doesn’t matter nearly as much as the golf balls, and I think you’re right…leftover perfectionism struggling to hold on and come out. Nothing should come before Joe or my family/friends, the boys and their family, and my health. I’ve gotten better about not letting things get in the way, but I also know if I’m tired/stressed/hungry, it’s a lot easier to let the silly little things get the better of me. Thank you for sharing this story! Beautiful way to start off the week

Wait, chocolate mint is a thing? …I need to find that. Now. (Does it actually taste like chocolate? Will you send me some? Kthxyou’reawesome.) I’ve heard that story a few times before, but it never gets old. It’s a nice reminder to appreciate the things we often overlook or take for granted. It’s so easy to miss something, only to later look back on it and wish that you had paid more attention to it.

Love, love, loveee this so much! Ah so needed this on a Monday. This is all too true and I am certainly guilty of becoming so pre-occupied with my golf balls and sand and I forget about coffee. I have been really working on changing that because the coffee is usually the most fun part. Thanks for the reminder
ps. OMG THAT SCONE!!!

oohhh i love the mayo jar analogy. its so true. i tend to like mondays, although i must say it depends on the week the interior of the duchess bake shop is soo cute! and the scone looks amazing. i want one of those here! glad your monday is off to a wonderful start!

Aww, I tell my students this story every year! It’s so true.
I’m the worst at fretting over the ‘sand’ in my life. My husband has been amazing at reminding me to focus on the bigger things. Over the past few years, I have learned not to sweat the small stuff quite as much, although it still happens from time to time. HOWEVER, I must say that ‘trival’ things to some people may actually be important to others.
Glad to see you had a lovely weekend. Nice to read such positivity on a Monday!

Every time I hear this story I get goosebumps. It is so true. I wish we didn’t need the reminder to always remember our priorities (family, friends, God), but none of us are perfect, and sometimes we do. Thanks for the beautiful reminder! I’m going to hang out with my mom today—one of my golf balls! =)

I LOVE it, Amanda!!!!!!! Thanks so much for sharing the Mayonnaise jar story. I’m definitely guilty of getting caught up in things that don’t really matter and taking for granted those people that really matter. I’m scheduling a date night with the hubby right now! We’ve both been wanting to see We are the Millers and we need some one-on-one time. 😉

Every time I hear that story it really makes me think. I do tend to get caught up in the small things and really need to focus more on the big things. I know I’d stress a lot less if I find a way to do that!

I love these kinds of stories! It is so true and I’m completely guilty of passing on certain things just to get my to-do list done, but I’m really trying to work on the balance thing I find this happens a lot during the school year so my goal for this term is balance and to not devote so much attention to things that won’t matter in a year

I definitely think it helps to look at things in the long term and ask “will this matter one/five/ten years down the road?” Whenever I do that, the answer -usually- turns out to be no, so that helps take some of the stress off.

That is such a great story! My golf balls right now are my family and running. I love finding new healthy products. I am starting to sell vitamins and sports nutrition stuff from Nutrilite. It’s an all natural, all plant, eco friendly company (THEY HAVE MAKEUP TOO!) but we just got a big ol box of free samples of everything and you would of thought it was Christmas day for me and I was 5!

That story is amazing, thanks for sharing. YES I do totally tend to get stuck on the little things. So many times I hear the saying “Keep your eyes on your future but focus on today” and well, I tend to forget the focus on today part!! I just think about what’s up ahead instead of enjoying whats RIGHT in front of me.

Excellent story to kick-off the week! I used to tell a similar story when I did corporate training & would talk about a work/life balance, it really is so true that we need to focus on the important things in life! Thanks for making my Monday a positive one lady! Enjoy yours

Happy Monday to you…I love this post…I actually try all of the time to not get caught up in small stuff and I spend a lot of time reminding my friends to do the same….I am totally patient as well but not when it comes to food, my appetite and especially dessert!

Enjoying the simple little things in life is def. a struggle for me from time to time. I had a bit of a rough weekend but it made me realize I need to sloooooow down. My goal is to be present and no more multitasking!

Oh girl, I feel ya on that one. Multitasking is the bane of my existence, and I’m trying hard to stop trying to do 100 things at once and just focus on one thing. Work in progress for sure, but I do love how it feels when I’m actually able to stick with it.

Sands…worry about my weight. I recently gained 15 or so pounds after a long period of restriction. It all backfired and now I’m heavier than I’d like to be and trying desperately to lose 5-10 lbs in the next 3 weeks or so

Definitely a great reminder to start off the week! My ‘golf ball’ moments this weekend involves spending time with friends and getting in lots cuddle time with the puppy when he was all worn out and sleepy on Sunday.

And oh goodness, eat that Simply Whey bar! That was my favourite out of all the ones I’ve found, although the chocolate mint is pretty fabulous too (and if I remember correctly, peanut-free). Hope you’re having a wonderful Monday love – although with your attitude, how could you not? 😉

That is a great story for me to read after last week. I had some stressful doctors visits along with stress at my job. But in all reality I have lots of good things going on in my life and I need to focus on them… Thank you

Such a great story! That coupled with your positivity is just the thing I need on a Monday morning.
I am guilty of getting way too caught up in the small stuff as well. Thanks for the reminder- it feels like a fresh breath of air.
And yes, that scone most certainly looks worth the wait!

This is such a cute story! I love when I stumble across these little gems! I definitely get caught up on things which are not priorities in my life. I have an even bigger problem with dwelling on them even months after they occur! I need to live, learn, and move forward! Some sands in my life right now are thinking about past relationships. For some reason, they’ve been hitting me hard lately. Some golf balls are definitely my family and working on improving my health… Two things I have forgot in the darkest days.

What a great story- thanks for sharing it! I like that you appreciate Mondays. I used to hate them, but after several “Marvelous Mondays,” I’ve actually started to enjoy Mondays. Just goes to show how great the blogging community and positive thinking can be!

wow! i have been letting the sand pile up around me too much this summer & this past week i actually took the time for coffee (literally!) with friends 3x! thanks for the reminder- it is easy to let the sand slide in. my golf balls this summer have been quality time with my hubs (even if it is fishing or shooting guns!) & hot yoga for my mental & physical health. i had not heard the story but i am going to send it out to my sis & mom right now. happy Monday!

I’m pretty sure I’ve heard of “the mayonnaise” theory before and thought it was so interesting. I love it! I waited in line at Sprinkles Cupcakes for about 20 minutes and while it was frustrating, it was totally worth it. If there’s a line to get in, you know it’s got to be good 😉

I did try the bar and -loved- it. I didn’t see the chocolate mint one (the only other they had was coconut), and I can’t eat the other Simply Bars because of allergies 😕 The whey ones are the only ones I can have, but it feels SO good to finally find a peanut-free bar.

What a great story!! I wish I had read this earlier in the day so I didn’t waste so much time on the little things! Golf balls are definitely friends and family for me. I’m actually going to a nice little get together tomorrow night to see a friend off as she moves down to Florida. Sad/happy at the same time!

I love this analogy! And it’s so true. When I just focus on the “golf balls” (family, friends, learning, pleasure, purpose) in my life, that’s when I’m at my happiest. I think I have a lot of “sand” I need to stop focusing on lately… things like worrying about being liked by people, stressing about the future, letting insignificant things bother me, comparing myself to others, etc. It really is just a waste of my time. Thanks for the reminder girl.

Thanks so much for writing this post, Amanda. Often in life, we tend to subconsciously get caught up in things which when reflected upon, truly is such an insignificant aspect that the amount of stress associated with it was completely wasted!

It looks like you had quite the fun filled weekend! Any bakery with a line that long, you know that the goods are worth the wait 😉 I have a fair few typical golf balls (family, friends, self appreciation) but also I think studying falls under that category. I keep wanting to throw the towel in, but need to realise its only another 2 months then I’m free!

AH I love this post!! I had never heard that mayo jar story/life analogy! LOVE IT!! I do get caught up at times in the things that don’t matter, but lately have been doing a good job focusing on the things that DO matter! OHH that scone..I would wait an hour for a good baked treat.

I love this post Amanda! Your posts seriously correspond perfectly to what I’m struggling with on any given day. I’m so thankful for you! You truly inspire me and lift me up so thank you Every time I hear this story I love it. I really do struggle with managing my priorities. It’s so tough not to get caught up in the silly things. I tend to put blogging first and then I get stressed out because I didn’t set aside time for God, family or work and it becomes quite overwhelming. This reminds me to keep things in perspective 😉

The first time I heard this story there was beer involved, not coffee but I guess that’s a matter of taste and doesn’t change the moral of the story 😀

I think I finally learned to recognise the things that really matter from those that don’t. Life is so much better when you know that even if you lose the small things you hold onto so tightly for no good reason, you will still have the important things which give it a meaning. For the first time in so many years I can say I am happy and mean it.

I love this so much, thank you for sharing. I actually read this one the way home from the gym while completely annoyed about the influx of freshmen taking over the campus gym (why haven’t I graduated yet I am going to be in school forever ahhhh) and it certainly made me do a perspective/attitude check. So thanks for making me a little easier to deal with today. 😉

I really don’t even have any other words to say about the mayo jar story besides “beautiful, perfect, empowering, deep”, etc… It truly did make me sit back & think. Thank you so much for sharing it, darling.

Guilty, guilty, guilty…of getting caught in the sand, that is. I’ve gotten much better though at identifying it and being able to take a step back and reprioritize, if need be.
Good luck with your mini herb garden. My advice – since you didn’t ask 😉 – would be to repot them into permanent containers. For some reason they seem to like it, and water them a little bit every other day. In the winter, you’ll be able to water them a lot less (like once or twice a week). Cut off any dead stuff and use them often. The best way for the plants to grow is to trim them regularly (i.e. eat stuff with your new herbs often).

Thank you! – for the advice. I’m definitely a noobie when it comes to taking care of plants, so I can use all the advice I can get. The mint shouldn’t be a problem to use up, but I don’t know how I’m going to go through that much basil…

What a great illustration! And so, 110% true. I like how he pointed out if you begin filling the jar with the sand and coffee, there won’t be room for the golf balls. Great reminder! Thanks for sharing Amanda!

Oh wow! I LOVED this story, Amanda! I am such a visual person so this is just like…whoa! I love how certain people just have a knack for breaking things down like this…a good way to remind us of the truths in life! I’m like you, thanks to my perfectionistic ways, I can get so caught up in the little things that time just blows right past me and before I even realize it, it’s been MONTHS since I’ve spent quality time with people whom I love. I’d say most of the “sands” of my life are the obligations that I create for myself…as in the ones that don’t really exist, but I make them so…most of them involving the guilt that arises when I step away from blogging for a while. I’ve made so many friends through blogging and I love the community/family feel of it, but I have to remember that I have real life friends too! My golf balls are definitely my family…my friends…and the time I take for myself to just unwind and destress!

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I'm Amanda - health coach, cookbook author, recipe developer, makeup junkie, oatmeal addict, and the author of Running with Spoons - a blog dedicated to proving that healthy eating doesn't have to be bland or boring, one delicious snack and dessert at a time. More About Amanda →